Sheet edging apparatus



y 14, 1940- J. DRAKE 2,200,984

SHEET EDGING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l ISmnntor doH/v L. DRAKE.

" attorney y 1940- J. L,. DRAKE 2,200,984

SHEET EDGING APPAEATUS Filed June 23, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zmventor G/OHN L. DEA/(E? Fatentecl May 14, 1946 UNITED s'rn'rss PATENT eerie-E John L. Drake, Toledo, 0hio, .assignor to-Libhey Owens-Ford Glass C'ompany,'Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215331 11 Claims.

Thepresent inventionrelates to grinding machinesin generaland more particularly to improved apparatus for surfacing the edges of sheets or plates of glass and thelike.

*Animportant object of this invention resides in theprovision of grinding apparatus of relatively "simplified and inexpensive construction particularly "adapted for use in "grinding the curved or rounded-edgesor corners of sheets or plates of 'glasswhich are to be employed as door and window lights in automotive'vehicles, although it is'of' course in no way restricted tosuch use.

Anotherobject ofthe invention -is the provi- 5 sion of grinding apparatus of the a oove characing straight edges, to =the-=end .that both the straight"and curvededges or corners of the sheets may be ground in asubstantially continuous manner.

'Other'objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore-apparent during the courseof the following description when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are emplayed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an edge :grinding machine constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

and between which is mounted any conventional 5 or preferred grinding unit C which is adapted for the grinding of straight edges. There may also be provided in advance of grinding unit -A and following grinding unit B the additional units D and'E respectively, similar to the intermediate unit C and adapted to take care of other of the straight edges of the sheetsorrplates.

The glass sheets In to beground are adapted to be supported on'edge in. avertical position and passed successively through the several grinding units in a manner to be more clearlyhereinafter describedwherehy to eifectthegrinding riot-only of the rounded cor'ners but :alsothexgrinding. of the straight-edges. It will "of courseubeunderstood that any desired number of. grinding units A,B, C, 'etc., canbearrangedend to end, dependent upon the number .of grinding hand/or .polishing elements the workarequires as well as thenumber :of straight edges and rounded corners. of the sheets'that are: to be ground.

Theintermediate grinding unitC comprises a supportingiiramework ll upon which is rotatably mounted a: vertical grinding wheel' i2 driven in any desired manner abouts-horizontal axis. The "grinding wheel is preferably provided with v a pluralityof grooves in .l its periphery, "as 'Well knownin the art, for receiving the sheet edges tobe ground. The lower'portion ofthe grinding wheel. operates within a receptacle IBcQntaining a suitable-abrasive material, while the upper portion of said wheelprojects'upwardly through "a slot in the :bottom of .a horizontal channel member M carried by the supporting frameworkl. 'Arrangedmithin-the channel member l4 atone side of the grinding wheelis a' plurality of horizontally 1 aligned .conveyor rollersl5, while "a: plurality of similar horizontally aligned conveyor rollers ltxaarenarranged cat the opposite side of said wheel. The rollers I5'andl6 constitute-a horizontal runway leading toand from the grinding wheel and"arew also-preferably provided with a ipluralityvof grooves aligning with the grooves in the grinding wheel. The conveyor rollers cooperatewith the grinding wheelto support the glasssheets l 0 during the grinding of the straight bottom edges athereof, as shown in Fig. 1, as the glass sheets move forwardly over. and in engagement with thegrinding wheel l2. The glass sheets are adapted to he moved forwardly over the grinding wheel by ,meansof a pusher block i1 ing wheels.

zontal channel member 34 comprising a bottom engaging the rear edges of the glass sheets and slidably supported upon the channel member M. The pusher block I i can be detachably associated with a traveling sprocket chain I 8 trained about sprockets l9 and 2, one of which may be suitably driven.

In order to maintain the glass sheets ill in a vertical position and also for holding the bottom edges a of said sheets in proper engagement with the grinding wheel l2, there may be provided a pressure roll 2! adapted to engage and bear upon the upper edges of the glass sheets i I! as they are moved therebeneath. The pressure roll 2| may be of any conventional or preferred construction but'as shown is carried by a pin 22 at the outer end of an arm 23 which is pivoted at its inner end as at 24 to a block 25. The block 25 is slidably mounted in vertical slot 26 formed in a'standard 2'1. The block 25 is carried at one end of acable "it which passes upwardly over a pulley 29 and has fastened to it s'opposite end a counterweight 30. Formed integral with the arm 23 is an arm 3| which cooperates with said arm 23 to form a bellcrank lever. Carried by the arm 3| is a weight 32 which urges the bell-crank lever in a counterclockwise direction to hold the pressure roll 2! downwardly in engagement with the upper edges of the glass sheets. It will be appreciated that while the intermediate grinding unit C is shown as including but a single grinding wheel l2, any desired number of wheels may be employed and these wheels may be either grinding or polishing wheels or some-grinding wheels and some polish- The grinding units D and E may, if desired, be of substantially the same construction as grinding unit C.

As pointed out above, the glass sheets I in passing over the grinding wheel l2 of unit C are adapted to have the bottom straight edges 11 thereof ground, and with the installation disclosed the rounded corners b of the sheets are adapted to be ground on unit A while the rounded corners c are ground on unit B. Since the units A and B are of substantially the same construction, a detailed description 'of only one will be given. Each unit A and B comprises a supporting framework 33 carrying at its upper end a hori- 35 and vertical side walls 36 and 31. Also carried by the supporting framework 33 is the grinding wheel 35 similarto grinding wheel 12 and driven in any preferred manner. The lower portion of the grinding wheel operates withina receptacle 39 containing a suitable abrasive medium, while the upper portion of said wheel projects upwardly through a slot M in the bottom 35 of channel member 34 as shown'in Fig. 2. Supported within the channel member, adjacent one end thereof, is a channel iron ll carrying a plurality of freely rotatable rollers 42, while supported at the opposite end of said channel member is a similar channel iron 43 carrying a series of horizontally aligned rollers 44 which arein horizontal alignspaced horizontal strips is secured to the opposite ends of said corner plates. The strips 48 and 49 are disposed at substantially right angles to strips 50. Mounted between the strips 48 and 49 upon pins 52 are a series of grooved rollers 5| which engage the inner adjacent edges of the glass sheets I0, while the bottom edges a thereof are supported upon a plurality of similar rollers 53 mounted upon pins 54 carried by the strips 50.

The work holder 5 is pivotally mounted upon trunnions 55 and 56 carried by the corner plates 46 and 41 respectively and provided with circular bearing members 57 and 58 which are supported within vertical slots 59 and 60 formed in supporting plates 61 and 62. The supporting plates BI and 62 are arranged inwardly of and secured to the side walls 36 and 31 of the channel member 34, said side walls being also provided with vertical slots 63 and 64 registering with the slots 59 and 60 in plates 6i and 62. The bearing members .51 and 58 are received snugly within the slots 59 and 60 but are sufficiently free to turn therein. The bearing member 58 is adapted to be rotated to eifect the desired rocking movement of the work holder, and to this end there is provided a reversible motor 65. The shaft 66 of said motor is provided with a worm Bl meshing with a worm gear 68 keyed to a shaft 69 journaled in spaced bearings l0 and "H mounted upon a fixed support 72. The shaft 69 is connected to and drives a shaft 73 attached to bearing member 58 through an intermediate shaft id and universal couplings 15 and 76. Upon operation of the motor in one direction, the work holder 45 will be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction and upon its operation in the opposite direction, said work holder will be rocked in a clockwise direction, with the bearing members 51 and 58 rotating in the slots 59 and 60. When the work holder is in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, the rollers 53 are in horizontal alignment with rollers 42 and are adapted to receive the glass sheets therefrom. The positioning of the glass sheets within the work holder can be effected by shoving them over the rollers 42 onto the rollers .53 and into the holder until the forward vertical edges of the sheets engage rollers 5|.

Whenthus positioned, the sheets are adapted to be clamped in place and for this purpose there is provided the clamping means best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. As shown, the clamping means embodies a pair of rods ii and 18, .each being threaded at its inner end within the outer end of a connecting member 79 pivoted to the respective corner plate G6 and 41 as at 80. The rods 17 and 18 project at their outer ends through a transverse strap 8| and have threaded thereupon nuts 82 to hold the strap in fixed relation with respect to said rods. Extending between the rods 11 and 18 is a plate 83 notched at its opposite ends as at 84 to receive the rods and carrying upon its inner face a pad 85 of rubber, rubber composition, or the like, which engages the upper outer corners d of the glass sheets as shown in Fig, 2. Adjustment of the clamping plate 83 is eiiected by a bolt 88 threaded through the strap BI and having a universal connection with clamping plate 85 as at 81. The outer end of the bolt 85 is provided with a transverse pin 88 to facilitate the turning thereof. After the glass sheets have been properly positioned in the work holder, the clamping means is moved so that the clamping plate 85 engages the upper outer corners d of the glass sheets and while held in this position the bolt 85 is tightened down to urge main line 91.

the pad into firm clamping engagement with the sheets so thatthe sheets will be firmly held in place during the grinding operation. .During the positioning of the sheets within the work holder 45, the clamping means can be swung upwardly to engage the spring clip 39 carried by thework holder. The spring clip, as best shown in Fig. 5, is adapted to snap over the rod ll of the clamping means. A similar spring clip can be carried at the outer end of the strips 58.

After the glass sheets ill have been properly positioned in the work holder 3-5, as shown in Fig. 2, the motor 65 is placed in operation to turn the holder slowly in a counter-clockwise direction, and during this rocking movement of the work holder, the corners c of the glass sheets will be'rnoved over and in engagement with the grinding wheel 38 to effect the grinding thereof. The work holder is rotated ninety degrees so that the strips it and 49 will assume a horizontal posi- I tion, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. and the strips 59 a vertical position, at which time the rollers 5| will be in horizontal alignment with the conveyor rollers 46. During this rocking movement of the work holder, the said holder will be permitted to move freely vertically due to the provision of the slots 59 and fill in plates El and 62. When brought to this po--- sition, the operation of the motor is adapted to be automatically stopped until the sheets have been removed from the work holder whereupon the motor is again placed in operation but in reverse direction to return the holder to its full line or starting position shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be more clearly apparent upon refer ence to the wiring diagram in Fig. 6. The merals 9i and 92 designate two limit switches which are adapted to be automatically actuated by the work holder upon rocking movement thereof and these switches are connected in series with the motor 65 by wires 93 and d-l respectively. The switches 9i and 92 are also connected by wires 95 and 96 to the negative main line 91.

Electric current is fed to the motor 65 from the positive main line at through a wire 59, snap switch Hill having contacts Hiland Hi2, and-wires Hi3 and 194. In starting the rocking movement of the work holder, the operator first manually closes switch Hill by moving it into engagement with contact ill! and when this is done the current will enter the motor 55 from the positive main line 98 through wire ms and passes therefrom through switch 9! to the negative main line 51. When the work holder reaches the end of its rocking movement in a counter-clockwise direction, the said holder will automatically open switch ti to break the circuit through the motor 55 and bring the same to a stop. l'he work holder remains in this'position until the operator again manually closes switch Hill by moving it toengage contact m2, at which time the current entering the motor 65 through wire HM will pass therefrom through switch 82 to the negative When the :motor is thus placed in operation, the work holder will be rocked in a clockwise direction to return it to starting position and when it reaches such position, it will act to automatically open switch 92, thereby again breaking the circuit through the motor'to bring it to a stop. The switches ti and 92 are preferably of the type which will be maintained in open position only during the time the work holder is in engagement therewith, and just as soon as the work holder moves out of engagement with the switches, they will automatically close. The working movementio'f the'work' holder 45 will be limited in either direction by a set screw I05 engaging an angle iron [06 carried by said work holder.

It is to be understood that the torm of the invention herewith shown and .describedis tolbe taken as the preferred embodiment of :thefsame, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts'maybe resortedto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subioined claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or theilike, a rotary grinding; wheel positioned torotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel includa plurality of horizontallyaligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, a work holder mounted above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, and means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the-curved edge of the sheet to-be --Jl0l.llld over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in theopposite direotion to return it to starting position,-one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said work holder in either direction. 3 l

2. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of thewheel, a work holdermounted above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two se ries of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be'ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the co'mpletion of the rocking movement-of said work holder in either direction, and means for automatically bringing the said work holder to-a'stop when it reaches the end of its rocking movement ineither direction.

- work holder arranged above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground'on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, means for mounting said work holder for free vertical and curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said work holder in either direction.

4; In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or-plateof glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, a

'work holder arranged above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, means for mounting said work holder for free vertical and rocking movement, a reversible motor for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said work holder in either direction, and limit switches actuated by the said work holder when it reaches the end of its rocking movement in either dlrec tion to stop said motor.

5. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, a work holder mounted above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, means for rock ing said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said work holder in either direction, and means carried by the said work holder and engaging the said sheet for securing it in place.

6. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or .the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, a work holder arranged above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, means for mounting said work holder for free vertical and rocking rocking movement, and means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the movement, means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said work holder in either direction, and clamping means pivotally carried by said work holder and engaging the outer edge of said sheet for securing it in position in said work holder.

7. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, spaced vertical plates mounted above the grinding wheel and having vertically disposed slots therein, a work holder arranged between said plates for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, trunnions carried at opposite sides of said work holder and having bearing members rotatably received in said slots, and means for driving one of said bearing members to rock said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said series of rollers being disposed in substantiallyhorizontal alignment with said conveyor rollers at the completion of the rocking movement of said Work holder in either direction.

8. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of ,5

a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel including a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at each side of the wheel, spaced vertical plates mounted above the grinding wheel and having vertically disposed slots therein, a work holder arranged between said plates for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two series of rollers arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, trunnions carried at opposite sides of said work holder and having said work holder in either direction, and limit switches actuated by the said work holder when it reaches the end of its rocking movement in either direction to stop said motor.

9. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel, a work holder mounted above the grinding wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including two sheet supporting means arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another and engageable by the adjacent edges of said sheet, and means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, one of said sheet supporting means being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said runway at the completion of the rocking movement of the said work holder in either direction.

10. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a horizontal runway leading to and from said grinding wheel, a substantially L-shaped work holder mounted above the grinding wheel comprising two portions arranged at substantially right angles relative to one another, means carried by each portion of the work holder and engageable by the adjacent edges of the sheet for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position, and means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, the sheet supporting means carried by one of the portions of the work holder being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with said runway at the completion of the rocking movement of the said work holder in either direction.

11. In apparatus for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder mounted above said grinding wheel having means for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position, means for rocking said work holder first in one direction to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with the grinding wheel and then in the opposite direction to return it to starting position, and clamping means for securing the sheet in position within said work holder including a pair of rods positioned at opposite sides of the said work holder and pivoted thereto at their inner ends, means for connecting said rods together at their outer ends, a clamping plate slidably received between said rods and engaging the outer edge of the sheet, and means carried by the means connecting said rods together for adjusting said plate inwardly to urge the said sheet into firm clamping engagement with the supporting means therefor.

JOHN L. DRAKE. 

